Harriet Ann Wilkins, 83, of Conroe, Texas left this world to be with her heavenly Father, July 8, 2016 at 6:15 a.m., embraced in her loving family's arms.

Born in Newport, Rhode Island on September 26, 1932 to Captain and Mrs. Jackson Bankhead Williams; Our mother, Ann, graduated from Washington and Lee High School in 1950. She went on to attend the Sorbonne in Paris, France where she was later married to Lester Purkeypile in 1950.

In 1985, she was ordained in the Episcopal Church of the Diocese of Northwest Texas as one of the first female Deacons in Episcopal history. A minister to the sick and dying, she traveled thousands of miles to visit folks who were shut-ins.

Ann was the Secretary for the League of Women Voters (Lubbock chapter). She also served with the National Organization of Women and was member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She fought for the Equal Rights Amendment with great gusto. She was a friend to luminaries in film, TV and literature; Her children never knew what interesting person they might encounter at their dinner table.

Ann managed the Texas Tech University Bookstore in Lubbock, Texas for many years, assisting four of her children with graduating from "Raiderland". She also worked at the George Washington University Bookstore for many years. A voracious reader and writer, she consumed 3 to 5 books a week for 60 years. She published hundreds of poems and articles for numerous journals and newspapers.

She instilled her love of art, music and literature in her six children, ten grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, and hundreds of "spiritual sons and daughters".